Barn Owl

[bachscuttler]

Was at a medieval joust yesterday and was heading back to the car when I spotted a falconry exhibition hidden away in the corner.
I've got some great pics to share over the next few days, starting with the Eagle Owl

http://www.bachs.shutterschool.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_5586-01.jpg


http://www.bachs.shutterschool.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_5607-01.jpg


http://www.bachs.shutterschool.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_5635-01.jpg


http://www.bachs.shutterschool.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_5585-01.jpg

[Bald Eagle]

WOW, Fantastic close-ups, Excellent shots, Great capture, really like these.

[Learner]

What incredible eyes. I love barn owls and these shots came out awesome!

Learner

[Stephen Stephen]

Beautiful photos of a beautiful bird. Could it possible be an Eagle or long-eared owl? I am not aware that barn owl had eye feather tufts.

[deedspender]

hi !!!
fantastic shots but i think you may find its an Eagle Owl ?
100% sure its not a Barn Owl !!!
they are brilliant shots though!!!
Declan!!!

[bachscuttler]

I wouldn't know the difference between a bald eagle and a blackbird....many thanks for the correction DOH! (I've edited the post title but couldn't change the thread title)

Bird shots are not something I specialise in but this was an opportunity not to be missed.

[deedspender]

I wouldn't know the difference between a bald eagle and a blackbird....many thanks for the correction DOH! (I've edited the post title but couldn't change the thread title)

Bird shots are not something I specialise in but this was an opportunity not to be missed.


know what you mean !!!
unfortunatly i know more about birds than photography !!!!
just for reference !!
http://www.owling.com/Barn.htm
this is a Barn Owl !!
Declan!!!

[deedspender]

know what you mean !!!
unfortunatly i know more about birds than photography !!!!
just for reference !!
http://www.owling.com/Barn.htm
this is a Barn Owl !!
Declan!!!


hi !!!
if you need any help indentifying the rest of the birds to go on, just send me a pic and i'll let you know !!! if i don't know i'll give my mate BILL ODDIE a ring !!!!:lol:

by the way !!!
did you blur the background with photoshop or is it real ?
if its real what aperture was it?
regards!!!
Declan (deedspender)

[bachscuttler]

hi !!!
if you need any help indentifying the rest of the birds to go on, just send me a pic and i'll let you know !!! if i don't know i'll give my mate BILL ODDIE a ring !!!!:lol:

by the way !!!
did you blur the background with photoshop or is it real ?
if its real what aperture was it?
regards!!!
Declan (deedspender)

Many thanks for your offer deedspender which I fully intend to take you up on :)

The background blur is real'ish'....I used f5 or f5.6 but ran them through Neatimage as a little noise came through on the background after applying USM.

Do you really know Bill Oddie? (The Goodies, ah dub a dub a dum dum) :D

[yakbut]

lovely pictures, nice DOF.

[myth337]

so.. one question... what's it like having a big owl like this sitting on your lap posing while you take his picture?? ;)

[bachscuttler]

Well I was kinda hoping it was a she.

[luisv]

Very nice... love the eyes and the color contrast of the feathers. Did you use the kit lens or the 75-300 for these?

[myth337]

man.. it is hard to tell the boys from the girls with the funky hairstyles these owls are wearing today. I remember back when.......

[HJMinard]

Wonderful shots ... I'm especially enamored with the second image. Brilliant work, bachscuttler!

[bachscuttler]

Very nice... love the eyes and the color contrast of the feathers. Did you use the kit lens or the 75-300 for these?

Used the 75-300mm
I'd love to see what an L lens would have come up with...guess I'll keep saving :confused:

[Carzee]

Great bird pics - a wow factor 9.

Why the 4-3 format?

[condyk]

The shots are great and it really shows that with decent light and when a bird is close by then even a so called 'consumer' lens, in the right hands of course, can work some magic.

[scott stokes]

those are some great photos!

[Jim_T]

Great shots.. They're so lifelike I keep expecting them to hoot :)

[luisv]

Used the 75-300mm
I'd love to see what an L lens would have come up with...guess I'll keep saving :confused:

Again... very nice...

[chemicalbro]

amazing shots............ I especially like 1 and 4.
i need to get out more :).. pitty i work nightshift (plays havock with the photo ops)...
can't wait to see more.

[LadyHawk]

Used the 75-300mm
I'd love to see what an L lens would have come up with...guess I'll keep saving :confused:

I don't think you can improve on what you've done here, bachscuttler. Those are fantastically sharp with nice bokeh. Good job!

[griz6000]

Great pictures but I think this is a barred owl not related to the barn owl. No matter the fotos are super.

[ngannet]

Not a barred or barn owl but an Eagle Owl. Barred Owl: http://www.owlpages.com/species.php?genus=Strix&species=varia BTW, these are exceptional shots! Very nice and sharp!

[Raj]

These are without any doubt the finest owl pics I have ever seen :-)

[sorashell]

Gorgeous!

[kenyc]

Wow!

KAC

[bachscuttler]

Thanks again to the latest posters!

I was corrected early on in the thread that it was in fact an Eagle Owl but I couldn't edit the post title :confused:
I've a lot t o learn!

I've picked up some good tips along the thread and next time I will be using flash and hopefullly will soon have a 580EX.

I'd like to share a sharpening tip I learned elsewhere that I used on these...
in Photoshop, switch to LAB mode and select the 'Lightness' channel (This channel will display the image in B & W). Apply the USM sharpening to this channel only to your taste then switch back to RGB mode.

I don't understand the technicalities of it but I can see a noticeable difference in the end result.

Give it a try! :)